Munich public prosecutor
Spy software sold to Turkish secret service? Four German managers charged
With the spyware dubbed FinSpy, it was possible to gain full control over computers and smartphones
© Sebastian Gollnow / DPA
Four managers of a former Bavarian software company have been charged because their company is said to have illegally sold spy software to the Turkish secret service.
The Munich I public prosecutor’s office has brought charges against a Bavaria-based company for selling surveillance software to spy on the Turkish opposition. Four former managing directors of the FinFisher group of companies in Munich are accused of commercial violations of the Foreign Trade Act, as the public prosecutor announced on Monday. One of the suspects was also the chief financial officer and responsible for the group’s export controls.
As one of the world’s leading companies, the FinFisher Group developed and distributed software for use by law enforcement agencies and secret services. With the spy software known as FinSpy, it was therefore possible to gain full control over computers and smartphones and monitor ongoing communication.
Criminal complaints from NGOs
According to the public prosecutor, the investigations were initiated by a criminal complaint filed by four non-governmental organizations that campaign for freedom of the press and human rights. Analysis by IT experts they provided concluded that FinSpy surveillance software was offered for download in 2017 via a fake website of the Turkish opposition movement under false pretenses in order to spy on them.
Since 2015, the export of surveillance technologies from the European Union has required a permit. According to the indictment, the software developed by FinFisher was also included. Because this meant “an existential threat” for the group, the company is said to have concealed deliveries and processed them without authorization via a company based in Bulgaria.
Specifically, at the end of January 2015, the company is said to have signed a contract worth more than five million euros for the delivery of surveillance software, hardware, technical support and training to Turkey. The recipient was the Turkish secret service MIT.